Author: Kalashian Nyrie

RACIAL BUT NOT RELIGIOUS HATRED BECOMES A CRIME IN EU
By staff writers

Ekklesia, UK
April 27 2007

Incitement to racial hatred and xenophobia is to become a crime across
the European Union. But after a fraught debate involving significant
national differences, attempts to single out religious aggravation
and holocaust denial were rejected.

In Britain the EU law will not mean any changes to domestic law
because the 2006 Racial and Religious Hatred Act is tougher.

Last week six years of negotiations concluded in Luxembourg with a
compromise that struggled to balance freedom of expression with a
tough stance on anti-semitism and other forms of racism and prejudice.

Justice ministers from all 27 European Union countries agreed that
incitement to hatred or violence against a group or a person that is
based on colour, race, national or ethnic origin, would be punishable
by a sentence of between one and three years’ jail.

Anti-racism campaigners, Jewish groups and Germany, which holds the
EU presidency, are concerned that the law neither bans holocaust
denial as such, nor Nazi symbols. But free speech and secular groups
say that this is appropriate, though they are politically strongly
opposed to such things.

"Europe has a special historic responsibility to combat anti-semitism
and it is a shame that the final version did not include this
[provision]," the European Jewish Congress declared after the decision.

Germany, France, Belgium, Austria, Spain and several eastern European
countries have laws banning holocaust denial. These laws will still
apply. Britain, Ireland and the Nordic countries have always resisted
such a law so as not to compromise academic or artistic freedom unless
it specifically incites racial hatred.

There is no reference either to the mass killings of Armenians by the
Ottoman Turks in 1915, which Armenians insist should be recognised
as genocide. Turkey, a candidate for EU membership, had made clear it
would object strongly to this – indeed it is an imprisonable offence
to raise the issue.

The new EU legislation will need to be ratified by some national
parliaments. It criminalises "publicly condoning, denying or grossly
trivialising crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity and war
crimes … when the conduct is carried out in a manner likely to
incite to violence or hatred against a group or [group] member".

EBRD FINANCES WASTEWATER TREATMENT PROJECT IN ARMENIA

Armenpress
Apr 27 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 27, ARMENPRESS: Residents of five municipalities
located near Lake Sevan in Central Armenia will benefit from improved
wastewater management services following a ~H7 million loan from
the European Bank for Development and Reconstruction (EBRD) to the
Republic of Armenia.

The funds will be on-lent to the state-owned Armenian Water and
Sewerage Company to finance three wastewater treatment plants and
network rehabilitation in the municipalities of Gavar, Vardenis,
Martuni, Sevan and Jermuk.

This will be EBRD’s first municipal and environmental infrastructure
project in Armenia. The loan provided by the Bank is complemented by a
~H5 million grant from the European Commission and the Early Transition
Countries Initiative Fund will provide technical co-operation grants
of ~H1.2 million for implementation support and advisory services.

Lake Sevan covers fifteen per cent of Armenia and is a place of natural
beauty and historic significance. The project will support efforts
to achieve compliance with Armenian and EU environmental standards
for wastewater treatment.

The agreement was signed in Yerevan on April 26. Alexander Auboeck,
EBRD Business Group Director for Infrastructure said by combining
a loan with a capital grant the project is a good example of how
the Bank can help make municipal investments affordable even when
commercial long term financing is not available.

Armenia is part of the EBRD’s Early Transition Countries Initiative,
which was launched in 2004 to stimulate market activity in the Bank’s
lowest-income countries of operation. To-date, the EBRD has invested
almost ~H120 million in more than 40 projects in Armenia.

The maturity period of the loan is 15 years with a three years of
grace period at LIBOR+1 interest rate.

KARABAKH: CHANGE OF STATE DEPARTMENT’S REPORT BECOMES HABIT

PanARMENIAN.Net
26.04.2007 14:23 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The point on Armenia of the US State Department’s
2006 report of Human Rights, which touched upon the Nagorno Karabakh,
has been restored in its original reduction, the PanARMENIAN.Net
journalist was told in the U.S. Embassy of Armenia. Currently the
report says, "occupied by Armenia territories of Azerbaijan and
Nagorno Karabakh".

Last week by demand of the Armenian side "occupied Nagorno Karabakh"
formulation was removed from the text of the report. However it was
restored on April 24.

In the interview to AzerTaj OSCE MG American Co-Chair, Deputy Assistant
Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Matthew Bryza
stated, "The statement in its original variant of the report was
wrong. If we take into account the current stage of talks over the
Nagorno Karabakh, it was our mistake. Let us consider one more time:
the amendment says that the Armenian forces have occupied territories,
but Armenian officials state that they have not occupied Nagorno
Karabakh. As you see, we just indicated the statement of the Armenian
side. Currently we are on the stage of peace process over the Nagorno
Karabakh, when the sides negotiate over its final status. This status
will be determined through peaceful ways via the OSCE Minsk Group,
basing on such international principles as resolutions of the UN
Security Council and OSCE decisions.

That’s why if we mistakably stated that Armenia has occupied Nagorno
Karabakh, like in the original variant, that statement as if will
predetermine results of negotiations concerning the status. We cannot
determine results, they must emerge in the process of talks. That’s
why I repeat we’ve committed a mistake. Now we corrected our
mistake. I will also notice that we have not fallen under anybody’s
influence. There are some people who say that we have done it under
the pressure of some Diasporan groups. That’s not right."

POLS SIDESTEP DEBATE OVER ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
By: Ryan Grim

Politico, DC
April 25 2007

By regional standards, the Armenian genocide happened yesterday. Or,
if you’re the government of Turkey or the United States, there was
no genocide.

Now Congress is weighing in, and the diplomatic foray has gotten messy.

The Bush administration, like others before it, refuses to use the
word "genocide." Beginning in 1915, more than 1.5 million Armenians
died when the Ottoman government forced the relocation of the
population. President Bush has a reason not to call it genocide: That
would anger the Turkish government, an ally and a Muslim democracy
which has threatened to revoke permission for the U.S. to use an
important air base over the issue, among other repercussions.

Resolutions recognizing and condemning the genocide have been
introduced in both the House and the Senate, and the administration
is vigorously opposing them. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
and Defense Secretary Robert Gates told House Speaker Nancy Pelosi
(D-Calif.) in a joint letter that the resolution could "harm American
troops in the field."

And Turkey’s lobbying prowess has already forced four co-sponsors to
back off the bill.

Nonetheless, backers of the nonbinding resolutions in Congress feel
this could be the year it happens and have gained momentum from a
Los Angeles Times editorial last weekend in support of the measure,
which now has 190 co-sponsors in the House and 29 in the Senate
version sponsored by Richard J. Durbin (D-Ill.).

The International Association of Genocide Scholars, among numerous
other reputable historical groups, has described the event as
genocide, explaining in a 2005 letter to the Turkish government that,
beginning in April 1915, "…under cover of World War I, the Young Turk
government of the Ottoman Empire began a systematic genocide of its
Armenian citizens — an unarmed Christian minority population. More
than a million Armenians were exterminated through direct killing,
starvation, torture and forced death marches…"

The Turkish government, which replaced the Ottomans, disputes the
account and is fighting to prevent debate on the resolution. A Turkish
Embassy spokesman said that the Armenian deaths — they place the toll
at 200,000 — occurred during an armed revolt by Armenian rebels who
opposed being relocated by the Ottoman government.

"We don’t believe the term ‘genocide’ has anything to do with what
happened in 1915 in the Ottoman Empire. It’s a very incriminating
and serious claim," the spokesman said.

Turkey has long threatened repercussions in trade and diplomatic
relations if the U.S. recognizes the genocide. "It’s going to affect
our cooperation," the embassy spokesman said. "We don’t see what
the advantages are for the United States in passing this. Only the
enemies of the United States and Turkey would be happy."

The Turkish government is backing up its talk with serious lobbying
power. The Livingston Group — the powerful firm of former Louisiana
Republican congressman Bob Livingston — represents Turkey and
is fighting the resolution. According to the watchdog group Public
Citizen, Turkey paid the Livingston Group $9 million between 2000 and
2004, and Turkey recently hired DLA Piper, the firm of former House
minority leader Dick Gephardt, to provide access to Democrats.

Lawmakers on Capitol Hill feel the pressure. So far, four House
members who initially co-sponsored the resolution, including Rep.

David Scott (D-Ga.), have withdrawn their support.

"I initially did it as a favor to Schiff," Scott said, referring to
one of the bill’s lead sponsors, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.). "If
I had known it would be this kind of a mess, I’d never have gotten
into it. I wasn’t there. I don’t know what happened. Out of fairness,
let them settle it."

Scott said he withdrew as a co-sponsor after meeting with a number of
his Turkish-American constituents. (His district includes a sizable
Turkish-American population.)

Rep. Dennis Moore (D-Kan.) also supported the resolution before he
withdrew as a co-sponsor. His office said he had "no official comment"
on the flip-flop.

Rep. Phil English (R-Pa.) also pulled his name, saying in a statement
to The Politico, "…although I sympathize with the Armenian claims for
justice, the timing of this resolution is unfortunate, given everything
in the Middle East and our need to maintain a close engagement with our
friends in Turkey. As we continue to work together to promote peace in
the Middle East and Iraq, nothing should come between U.S. engagement
with Turkey."

Republicans also see the resolution as an opportunity to paint
Democrats as novices in international diplomacy. "It’s another
irresponsible foreign policy flap on the part of the majority on
the heels of their trip to Syria," said Florida Rep. Adam Putnam,
the third-ranking member in the Republican caucus.

The Bush administration "does not use the word ‘genocide’ to describe
these events," the U.S. Embassy said in a March 13, 2007, statement.

The administration, it clarified, "has never denied the mass murders
and forced exile of up to 1.5 million Armenians" — it just doesn’t
call it genocide.

"Unfortunately, the administration, rather than viewing it as a moral
issue, puts it into U.S.-Turkish relations," said Aram Hambarian,
executive director of the Armenian National Committee of America.

Schiff agrees, contending that the administration’s opposition is "not
a principled position to take." Refusing to acknowledge a 90-year-old
genocide undercuts U.S. moral authority to end the genocide currently
going on in Darfur, he added.

Hambarian said that Turkey’s threats are bluffs, noting that it trades
briskly with European nations that have condemned the genocide. He
added that when the U.S. has previously bucked Turkey by mentioning the
genocide, in several earlier House resolutions and a 1981 presidential
proclamation by Ronald Reagan, the threats did not materialize.

"Every year the argument is made that this is not a good time," Schiff
said. "It’s been 90 years. If now is not the right time, when is?"

07/3666.html

‘ANTILOBBY’ OF TURKISH PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION ENDED WITH FEELING OF HUMILIATED DIGNITY

Arminfo
2007-04-23 10:35:00

The speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi has refused
to receive the Turkish parliamentary delegation, which organized an
"antolobby" in Washington on the Armenian Genocide Resolution.

Journalists asked the members of the delegation, "Did you
demand a meeting with Nancy Pelosi, the speaker of the House of
Representatives?" Turkey’s Ambassador to Washington Nabi Sensoy
replied, "While we arranged appointments with various members of
the Congress, we also requested an appointment from Pelosi’s office,
but they didn’t even respond." Other such delegation that went to the
United States with the same purpose were treated the same way. OK,
let’s omit Gul’s case, who tried to make an appointment at a time
when Pelosi’s character wasn’t known by us. And let’s also omit the
first delegation’s repeated mistake since it coincided with Gul’s
visit. But how come the second and the third delegations ventured
forth and were humiliated over and over again?

GOVERNOR OF CALIFORNIA: I HAVE REPEATEDLY RECOGNIZED ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

PanARMENIAN.Net
23.04.2007 19:48 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "I have repeatedly recognized the Armenian Genocide
and continue to urge all freedom-loving people in America and around
the world to do the same," Governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger
stated at the interview to the PanARMENIAN.Net. He reminded from
April 22 till 29 a number of events will be held in California in the
framework of "Days of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide". "There
are numerous observances and events being organized and sponsored by
a range of Armenian and non-Armenian organizations — from the State
Legislature and local cities, to religious and community groups,
and educational and cultural institutions," Schwarzenegger said.

The week of April 22nd through April 29th is proclaimed as "Days of
Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide" in California by the state’s
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. His statement particularly says,
"Between the years 1915 and 1923, during the chaos of World War I,
over one million Armenian men, women and children living within the
Ottoman Empire’s borders were killed; forcing hundreds of thousands of
Armenians to flee to foreign countries after being stripped of their
possessions, their national identities and their homeland. Scores fled
to the United States, and California was fortunate to become home
to one of the largest populations of Armenians outside the Republic
of Armenia. Many of California’s Armenian-American families are the
descendents of these courageous genocide survivors, whose hope for a
life independent war and violence was realized on our soil. Like their
family members before them, the Armenian-American community bravely
flourished and contributed much to our state and nation. Documented
as the first instance of genocide in the twentieth century, the
Armenian Genocide remains unacknowledged to this day. I strongly
echo the sentiments that all nations must examine their own painful
histories, as the denial of genocide further wounds a nation’s ability
to heal. Though over ninety years have passed since these mass killings
took place, present day atrocities resonate throughout the world. It
is our responsibility to recognize the brutal slayings of so many
innocents, remembering their suffering and vowing to help prevent
future genocides. I join California’s Armenian-American communities
and all Armenians worldwide in remembering those who were killed and
persecuted during the Armenian Genocide, and urge people throughout
the world to never forget these horrific crimes against humanity.

Now, Therefore, I, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Governor of the State of
California, do hereby proclaim the week of April 22nd through April
29th, 2007, as "Days of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide.""

LOS ANGELES CITY COUNCIL PASSES RESOLUTION ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

PanARMENIAN.Net
24.04.2007 13:34 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Recognition of the Armenian Genocide hearing was
held in Los Angeles City Council April 20.

LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, City Council President Eric Garcetti,
Council members and Armenian Consul General in Los Angeles Armen
Liloyan and other participants passed a resolution recognizing the
Armenian Genocide.

"Armenia pursues a consistent policy aimed at discussion of the
Genocide, human rights protection and public awareness," Armen
Liloyan said.

Eric Garcetti noted the important of the Armenian Genocide resolutions
adopted by the lower house of the California Legislature and the LA
City Council.

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa called on the Congress to pass the Armenian
Genocide resolution and advised the federal government to recognize
this fact, the RA MFA press office reports.

ROBERT KOCHARIAN: STRONG ARMENIA SHOULD BE ARMENIAN PEOPLE’S RESPONSE TO THOSE COMMITTING AND DENYING ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

Noyan Tapan
Apr 24 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 24, NOYAN TAPAN. On the occasion of Commemoration
Day of Armenian Genocide RA President Robert Kocharian addressed a
message to the Armenian people. The message provided to Noyan Tapan
from RA President’s Press Office read:

"Dear compatriots,

Every year on April 24 we commemorate the innocent victims of the
Armenian Genocide committed in the Ottoman Turkey. But we always bear
memory about that crime in our souls.

Many countries of the world remember and commemorate that day together
with the Armenian people. The international community realized that
genocide is a crime aimed not only against individual people, but
also against the whole mankind: a crime, the denial and concealing
of which are no less dangerous than its preparation and fulfilment.

Ordeals and feeling of unfairness have a property of uniting. The
disaster of the genocide strengthened the feeling of Armenian identity,
made Armenians consolidate, strengthened the wish of independent
statehood. Being the reflection of Armenian people’s ancient-old dream,
the Republic of Armenia should prosper and develop as the homeland
of all Armenians. Strong, democratic, well-off Armenia should be
Armenian people’s response to those planning, committing and denying
the Armenian Genocide."

IN ALL LIKELIHOOD POET HRACHIK TAMRAZIAN TO BECOME DIRECTOR OF MATENADARAN

Noyan Tapan
Apr 24 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 24, NOYAN TAPAN. According to NT’s information,
starting from next week, Hrachik Tamrazian, poet, director of the
Nairi publishing house, will assume the position of director the
Matenadaran scientific research institute of ancient manuscripts
after Mesrop Mashtots.

Academician Sen Arevshatian, who has been the director of the
Matenadaran for many years, will resign in connection with retiring
on a pension.

Baku doubts in US’s stance as a mediator in Karabakh process

PanARMENIAN.Net
23.04.2007 13:39 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Azeri government has decided to postpone the
visit of an Azeri delegation to the United States, during which from
April 23 till 24 bilateral consultations on Security issues were
scheduled in Washington, says the statement of the Press Office of
Azerbaijani MFA.

This decision is connected with the amendments that were introduced
to the initial text of U.S. State Department’s human rights report
in 2006. Particularly changes touched the section dedicated to the
Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

"Solution of this conflict by keeping the territorial integrity of
the Republic of Azerbaijan (Nagorno Karabakh is supposed to be an
integral part of Azerbaijan) is a paramount element in the process
of wide cooperation between Azerbaijan and the US in the sphere of
security. Introduction of amendments to the already published report
that distort the gist of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, arouses
perplexity and doubts in US’s stance as an impartial mediator in the
issue of the conflict settlement. Similar moves may create serious
barriers for further cooperation between the two countries in the
security sphere," the Azeri MFA Press Office reports.

High official representatives from National Security Service, Home
Office, Defense Ministry, State Frontier Guard Service, State Customs
Committee and Special State Guard Service were due to participate in
the consultations," "Novosti-Azerbaijan" reports.